Improvement un tubular condensers



UNITED o STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN WV. WHEELER, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

llVlPROVElViENT IN TUBULAR CONDENSERS.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 47,180, dated April25, 1865.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Beit known that I, N onMAN W. WHEELER, of Brooklyn, in the countyot'Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Condensers and Analogous Tubular Structures; and `I dohereby declare that the following is a full and eXact descriptionthereof. j

My invention relates to the joining ot the tubes to the plates orpartitions, which junc tion it is necessary to keep tight, and at thesame time to allow a sliding of the tubes endwise therein to accommodatethe expansion and contraction. The means heretofore generally employedfor such purpose have been open to the objection either that the jointwould not keep tight or else that the nicety required in theconstruction and the labor and expense involved therein tended greatlyto oti'set their usefulness and retard their introd lotion.

My invention is designed to make the junction absolutely tight and tomaintain it in that condition, and to allow a movement oi' the tubesendwise, so as to accommodate themselves to varying temperature, and allwithout involving much labor in the construction of the joints, andwithout requiring much nicety in the fitting or even turning orotherwise finishing the (nls oi' the tubes.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe it by the aid of the drawings hereto annexed, whichform a part ot' this specication, and of the letters of reference markedthereon.

Figure l is a longitudinal central section through my condenser, onlyaiew tubes being represented, but the full set being supposed to besimilarly fitted. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. In this latterall the tubes are represented in position. Fig. 3 is a crosssectionthrough a portion of one end of the condenser and through one joint,represented as completely formed. Fig. 4 is an end viewthe two higherrows show the holes prepared to receive the tubes, the two lower rowsshow the tubes in place. Fig. 5 shows dii'erent views ofthe pieces ofwood which I use to retain and compress the packing. Fig. 6 shows thesame in a different form. Fig. 7 indicates the form of a ring of arubber used as a packing material. Fig. 8 is a cross-section showinganother form of liolein which to construct my joint.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theiigures.

The drawings show the novel portions with so much otl the other parts asis necessary to indicate their relations thereto.

A. is a cylindrical shell ot castiron. B B are the outside heads orends. C C are the inner heads, in which the ends of the tubes D aresecured. rIhe heads G U are connected to the shell A by a iirinrust-joint.

My condenser is` represented as provided with apparatus and suitablenozzles to receive steam and cold water and perform the func- Theseconnecf:`

tions of a surface-condenser. tions may be made and arranged in anyapproved manner.

Figs. l, 3, and 4. These figures show the holes in the heads 0,@ as eachmade of three different diameters, atdiierent points, indicatedrespectively by 1, 2, and 3. The part 1 at the inner end of each hole is`a little larger than the exterior of the tubes D. The part 2 at theouter end of each hole is of greater diameter than the part l, and is somuch larger than the tube D as allows the insertion of the wooden ring'Y or annulus E. This latter may be formed in several parts, asrepresented in Fig. 5, or may be formed in a single part, with an openjoint, as indicated in Fig. 6. Either of these forms is adapted to allowthe diameter to change within wide limits. I prefer to make these partsE of maple wood, I make them of such thickness that they may be driventightly aroundA the tube D, so as to be compressed in the space providedtherefor by the large diameter of the hole at 2. The part 3 of the holeis midway between the outer and the inner surface of the plate C. Thispart of the hole is of still greater diameter than the part 2.

In preparing the hole to receive the tube, I first introduce a ring ofvulcanized rubber, and allow it to spring out by its elasticity so as tobe retained in the large part 3. I then introduce the tube D, allowingit to project a little beyond the outer edge ofthe plate. I then drivein the part E with a mallet or other suitable device, so as to supportthe tube D very accurately in the center of the hole, and also to pressagainst the edge of the rubber ring or packing G. I press the rubber bythis means only to a sufficient eXtent to thicken it and cause ittopress gently but tightly against the exterior of the tube D. In thiscondition the tube is at liberty to slide endwise to any requiredextent, and the rubber packing G maintains a tight joint around the samein all positions, even after the Wood is much Worn.

If the tube D is quite rough, it is liable to cut or abrade the rubber,but the roughness soon becomes partly filled. by the material thusreceived from the packing-ring G, and the destruction becomes lessrapid.

When the condenser has been a short time in use, I proceed to tightenthe pressure ofthe packing G upon the tubeD by driving in the annulus Ea little farther than at rst. After this my condenser Will serveV for along period Without further trouble, and Whenever it exhibits a tendencyto leak it may be remedied by driving` the annulus E a little fartheruntil the packing G is nearly consumed, when the Whole may be removedand a fresh supply of material, G and E, introduced as before.

I can use other Wood than maple for the material of the piece or piecesE,or I can use iron and various other materials, if a suitable Woodcannot be obtained. l can use other soft material, as hemp orcotton,inlieu of rubber, for the packing G. I have found ordiniry vulcanizedrubber and wood or other analogous soft material to give goodsatisfaction.

Fig. S representsY another form in which the holes may be prepared.I Iintroduce the packing G, the tube D, and the ring or compressing part Ein the same relative positions as before described. Sharp internalridges in this form tend to cut or slightly indent themselves into thematerial v'of the part E and serve to retain the latter with greatforce. Their form, being perpendicular on the edges orfaces nearest thepacking G and very greatly beveled on the other side, allows the annulusE to be readily driven inward, but holds it very securely against itsbeing returned or pushed outward by the elasticity of the packing G.

Having now fully described my invention, WhatI claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The improvement in condensers and analogous tubular constructions hereindescribedto Wit, the employment of the soft packing G and driven annulusE, the latter holding itselfin place and supportingand guiding the tubeD and compressing the packing G, substantially inthe manner and with theeffect herein set forth. Y

NORMAN W. WHEELER.

Witnesses:

BENJN. L. BILLINGs, D. W. STETsoN.

